Fire tool



May 114, 1946.

w. J. wlLsoN I FIRE TOOL Filed Sept. 21, 1943 INVENTOR.

' A'ITD R N EYE I Patented May 14, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE TOOL William J. Wilson, Tehachapi, Calif. Application September 21, 1943, Serial No. 503,293

2 Claims.

My invention relates to manual ground working tools, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved combination hoe or scraper, rake and spade particularly suitable for extinguishing and preventing forest and ground surface fires.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device in its hoe and rake position;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the tool condltioned for spading purposes;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the handle structure with the tool conditionedaccording to Figure 1; v v a Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the tool conditioned for spading purposes;

Figure 5 is a face view of the tool in its spading position;

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the manner in which the tool is latched in its spading condition together with a foot pressure member; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a latch sleeve.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, I make use or a handle III in the nature of an ordinary rake handle. To one end of the ban die is attached a blade l2, half oi! which comprises a hoe or scraper portion H a tined rake portion the blade l2 centrally thereof. This body is fiat and is located in a slot in the end of the bandle and pivotally connected therewith by a pin 22.

Projecting from the body I8 is a finger 24 arranged to lie in a recess or groove 26 in the side of the handle when the blade I2 is pivoted to a position at right angles to the handle. Means for latching the blade in the position of Figures 1 and 3 comprises a sleeve 28 slidable on the handle Hi. This sleeve latches the finger 24 firmly in the groove 26.

A bayonet slot 30 is provided in the sleeve 28 for the reception of a pin 32 attached to the handle III to restrain the sleeve from accidental shifting on the handle in its latching position. With the 'blade l2 positioned according to Figures 1 and 3, both the hoe or scraperportion and the other half i6. Abody I8 is welded to (or. soc-1s) l4 and the rake portion iii are in working positions. 1

Figures 2, 4 and 5 illustrate the blade [2 positioned for spading purposes. A finger 34 is welded to the blade I! and is shaped to lie in parallel and slightly spaced relationship therewith. A second groove 36 is provided in the handle it to receive the finger 34 when the blade I2 is pivoted to the position of Figures 2, 4 and 5. The

10 sleeve 28 slips over the finger 34 to hold it firmly in the groove.-

, A foot piece 40 is welded to the sleeve 28 in right angular relationship therewith. This foot piece lies slightly rearwardly of the rake portion 1 l0 when'the pin 32 lies in the bayonet slot 3|], as .in Figures 1 and 2, so that foot pressure may be employed to press the hoe portion [4 into the ground for spading purposes.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing .wlll so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

25 .1. A tool of the type described comprising a handle having a slot in the end thereof and finger recesses adjacent said slot, a blade, a fiat body mounted midway the edges of the blade and having a finger formed thereon, said body ivoted in the slot, and lying in one position with the finger nested in a recess, a finger of the same length of the blade formed on the blade and spaced from and lying parallel thereto, and in another position of the body and blade with the finger in the other recess, a sleeve slidable on the handle, and movable to position to selectively lock one of said fingers in one of the recesses to selectivelyfix the positions of the blade,

a pin on the handle, and a bayonet slot in thesleeve in which the pin is adapted to engage tofix the position of the sleeve.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said sleeve when in locked position lies in the space formed between said blade and said finger on said blade.

WILLIAM J. WILSON. 

